Plug and socket clamp



Jan- 13241948- J. SAVAGE 2,434,521

-PLUG AND SOCKET CLAMP Filed Jan. s, 1947 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Jan. 13, ,1948

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a means to releasably clamp thetwo-pieces constituting the plug and socket in operative relationship,so that the portion in which the wire or cable is connected cannot bewithdrawn from the socket which is screwed into the receptacle Withoutreleasing the clamp therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the kindmentioned which shall be simple and inexpensive in construction andpositive in operation.

To these and other ends it consists of the novel features andcombinations hereinafter described, and more particularly set forth inthe claims.

For the purpose of aiding in the explanation of the invention I show inthe accompanying drawing and hereinafter describe one practicalembodiment of it. It is to be understood, however, that this embodimentis presented merely by way of illustration and that the specic showingand description of it are not to be construed in any fashion as limitingthe appended claims short of the true and comprehensive scope of theinvention in the art. There are of course numerous methods of performingthe mechanical features of my invention of which I have shown but one.

Referring to the drawing in which numerals of like character designatesimilar parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a plan vieW 0f the clamp showing the same mounted on a plugand socket.

Figure 2 is a side View thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional View on line AA in Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the clamp mounted on the plug andsocket.

In the drawing, I designates the plug secured on the end of the cable orwire 2, the plug being inserted into the socket 3 through which currentmay be supplied to the cable or Wire. The end of the wire of cableremote from the plug may be connected to an electrical device, such asan electric drill, etc.

The clamp comprises stamped or moulded members formed to the shapesindicated. The top member 4 is provided with a U-shaped notch 5 for thereception of the split bushing 6, the split in the bushing is indicatedas at 1. The bushing is adapted to insulate the wire or cable on whichit is mounted from the metal forming the top member.

The clamping members 8 and 9 are hinged to the top member by means ofhinge pins I and I I. The lower end portions of the clamping members arebent inwardly as at I2 and I3, and each portion is provided with an arcas at I4 and I5,.

adapted to engage the periphery of the socket to position the clampthereon.

The clamp is provided with hinged clamping rods 0r bolts I6 and I'I,hinged to the clamp by means of hinge pins I8 and I9. The ends of therods or bolts remote from their hinges are threaded, and each rod orbolt is provided with a knurled threaded thumb nut 20 and 2I. The end ofeach rod or bolt is peened or hammered out as at 22 to prevent theknurled thumb nut from being screwed off, and hence the possibility ofits loss prevented.

The clamping member 9 is provided with slots 23 and 24 for the receptionof the clamping rods or bolts. At the entrance of each slot and oneither side thereof, there is provided out bent lugs 25` 26, 21 and 28,behind which the hub 23 and 30 of the knurled thumb screw engage, sothat the rod or bolt is held in the slot against accidentaldisengagement after the clamp is finally xed and clamped in position onthe socket.

The helical spring 3l is twisted or otherwise mounted on the wire orcable, and is interposed between the upper end of the plug and theunderside of the top member, and is adapted to exert its inherentpressure against the plug, and hence the pull on the wire or cableconnected thereto, so that if the plug is pulled slightly out of thesocket, it will be immediately forced back in the socket when the pullthereon is released.

The top member is provided with a removably mounted cover plate 32, thatis held in assembled relationship thereon by means of the screws 33 and34. The cover pate is provided to cover the notch in the top member, andalso to hold the bushing and the wire or cable in proper positiontherein.

It is believed that the operation of the device as a whole will beclear, in View of the foregoing description which has been given inconnection with that of the construction of the same.

Many constructional changes may, of course, be introduced in theembodiment described and illustrated by way of example, withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the class described, comprising, in combination a topmember having a notch formed therein, a cover plate to cover theaforementioned notch, clamping members hinged to the top member, one ofthe aforesaid hinged members being provided with oppositely spacednotches and having lugs bent outwardly one on each side of the entranceof each notch, clamping -bolts hingedly connected to the other of thesaid members and being aligned with and adapted to engage in the spacednotches in the other member, the end of the clamping bolts remote fromthe hinge being provided with a threaded portion, a. nut threaded untothe threaded portion of the clamping bolt and having a portion adaptedto engage behind the outwardly bent lugs to prevent the clamping boltfrom becoming disengaged from the slot after the clamping members arebrought into clamping engagement with a socket on which the device isremovably clamped.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, in which a helical spring isengageable with the underside of 1 15 1,989,823

the top member and the upper end of a plug and adapted to spring-urgethe plug into a socket When a pull is exerted upon a cable connected tothe plug to insure certainty and sufciency of con- 5 tact between theplug and socket.

JOSEPH SAVAGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 10 le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,572,988 Campbell Feb. 16, 1926vRaabe Feb. 5, 1935

